Mail-box.



J. N. GOULTER. Mm. BOX. 'Arrmoumx nun) 333.14, 1908.

amnntoz {film amm Patented Dec.8,19 08.

JOHN N. GOULTER, OF FAIRFIELD, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed February 14, 1908. Serial No. 415,932.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. CoUL'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Wayne and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes designed for use as a rural route mail box to facilitate the collection of mail and the payment of the postage for mail deposited therein, the object of the invention being to provide in connection with a mail box, a coin receptacle embodying a coin holder or support, and means adapted to be locked and unlocked and operated to move the coin support for the purpose of delivering the coin or coins to the mail carrier.

With the above general object in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mail box, showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coin receptacle, showing the coin support, etc.

1 designates a mail box of any suitable construction adapted to be fastened to a suitable support.

In carrying out the present invention a coin box or receptacle 2 is fastened to the mail box 1 in any convenient manner as by a strap 3 extending around the box or receptacle 2 and having its opposite ends secured to the mail box as shown at at, whereby the coin receptacle is fastened to and supported on the mail box.

Within the coin receptacle 2 there is mounted a tilting coin support or shelf 5, the same being fastened on a rock shaft 6 Wvhich is mounted in hearings in the receptacle 2 and provided at one end, outside of the receptacle, wit-h a tilting lever 7 which also acts as a signal to the mail carrier, said lever, when in its upright and locked position, as shown in Fig. 1, indicating that money is contained within the receptacle to pay the postage for the letters or other mail matter contained in the mail box.

The lower end of the receptacle 2 is con-' tracted or tapered as shown at 8 to form arelatively small discharge opening 9 which will insure the coins being directed into the hand of the mail carrier. The receptacle 2 is also provided with a suitable lid or cover 10 having at one side an eye or staple 11 located adjacent to a corresponding eye or staple 12 on the main body of the box, said eyes or staples being adapted to receive a chain 13 the ends of which are connected to a padlock 14, the chain also being adapted to pass around the lever 7 as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the lock secures the lever against movement and also fastens the lid or cover on the receptacle.

15 designates a slot through which the coins may be inserted into the receptacle so as to fall on the coin support 5. The opening 15 is preferably punched and the metal bent inward to form an inclined baffle lip 16 to prevent the surreptitious extraction of the coins. The shelf or support 5 is provided at one edge with an upturned flange 17 and at the opposite edge with a downturned flange 18 to insure the proper discharge of the coins therefrom.

19 designates a segmental guard for the tilting lever 7 said guard being secured to the receptacle 2 and bearing relation to the lever 7 as shown in Fig. 1.

As soon as the mail carrier sees the box, he can tell by the position of the lever 7 whether or not any mail matter and coins are contained in the box. If the lever 7 stands upright, acting as a signal, he unfastens the lock 14 and swings the lever 7, whereupon the coins are discharged into his hand held under the receptacle 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A rural mail box embodying a coin receptacle having an open coin discharge orifice, a tilting coin support in said receptacle above the discharge orifice, a lever for tilting said support, and key-operated means for locking said lever.

2. A rural mail box embodying a coin receptacle having an open coin discharge orifice, a tilting coin support arranged above the discharge orifice, and key-operated means for locking and releasing said coin support.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN N. COULTER.

Witnesses:

J. M. RUeeLEs, EDNA E. MGFARLAND. 

